Robert w



(No'Model.)'

. R. W. PERKINS & F. H. ALLEN. Machine for Forming Harness Loops.

No.236,o7 s. Patented Dec. 28 1880-.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT W. PERKINS AND FRANK H. ALLEN, OF NORWICH, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNORS TO SAID ALLEN AND JOHN E. WARNER, OF SAME PLACE.

MACHINE FOR FORMING HARNESS-LOOPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 236,078, dated December 28, 1880.

Application filed May 26, 1880 (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ROBERT W. PERKINS and FRANK H. ALLEN, both of the city of Norwich, county of New London, and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Compressing and Ornamenting Harness-Loops, which improvements are fully described in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

Our improvements are designed to assist harness makers and repairers in shaping, compressing, and ornamenting the leather boxes or loops into which the several parts of a harness are tucked after having been passed through a buckle.

The principal advantages gained by the use of our machine are: First, a box or loop as perfect and square as though formed of wood or metal; second, the loop, being compressed on all sides at the same time, is made very stiff and hard, and will retain its box-like shape a greater length of time than a hand-made loop; third, the ornamenting of the top (and sides,

if desired) can be done by an apprentice in much better style than can possibly be done by hand by the most skillful worker on harness; and fourth, these important and desirable conditions are obtained in less than one-fourth the time required by a hand-workman.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is an end view of our machine, showing its several parts in position. Fig. 2is a ground plan of the same, showing the machine ready to receive the work to be pressed and ornamented. Fig. 3 is a view of the electrotyped die used in connection with our machine. Fig. 4 represents a metallic piece used in forming the winker or blind-loop.

Our improvements are embodied in a benchpress provided with a single screw at the top. Passing through removable pieces on each side are auxiliary screws. All these screws, when in proper position, tend toward a common central point.

Referring to Fig. 1, B represents the base of our machine, and A the arch or bridge which supports and guides the principal screw, which is shown at C. The base B and arch A are constructed preferably of one piece of iron or other strong material. Through the center of the base B is a lengthwise groove or depression, which (when the machine is in use) is filled by a removable plate, E, having its upper surface faced with rubber, on which the work to be pressed is placed. The rubber facing on the plate, being elastic, adjusts itself to any unevenness in the fold or strap on which the loop is made.

On each side of the machine are metallic pieces, (shown at c 0,) which, when in use, are held in position by the studs e e at one end and the inner side of the arch A at the other end. Passing through the pieces ccatapoint opposite the screw C are screws d d. The screws C d d are operated by a wrench or hand-wheel.

The pieces b b are of the same general shape as the piece a, and are placed between the work to be pressed and the screws 01 d. The particular duty of the piece a is to equalize the pressure of the ornamenting-die on the loop when the screw C is forced home, and to protect the die.

There have been constructed heretofore machines with a series of screws by which pressure is applied to different parts of the die. Should one of the screws insucha machine be forced a single thread beyond the others, an

- uneven imprint is given and the die is in dan- 8o ger of being cracked or sprung. This could not occur in our machine, as the piece a, intervening between the die and screw, adjusts itself automatically and equalizes the pressure. There is also a saving of time by using one screw in place of two or more.

The die h is made by electrotyping an ordinary wood-cut. We call special notice to the advantages which an electrotyped die has over the steel and brass dies used heretofore. o Owing to the soft and spongy nature of leather a hardened die is unnecessary; yet it must be of a material which will be lasting. Cut steel dies cost too much for the ordinary harnessmaker. Cast brass dies must be finished'by 5 hand, and, although much cheaper than out steel, are still too expensive, and if cast by the usual methods are, at the best, very imperfect. If the screw in our machine were applied direct to the electrotyped die, it would :00

of course crumble and spring; but with the piece a in proper position it becomes as firm and lasting; as a steel die, and is produced at one-tenth the cost.

To operate our machine, place the work to be pressed and ornamented on the plate E. This may be done when the plate E is in the machine, or the plate may be removed to a convenient place, the work arranged in position on it, and the whole placed in the center of the machine with the ornamenting-d e ou the top of the loop. The opening in the loop should be filled by what is known amongharness-men as a loop-sticl --that is, apiece of hard wood about the size of the strap which is to pass through the loop. Having placed the piece a on the die. turn down the screw 0 until the pressure holds the loop fast. Place the pieces 0 c and b b in proper position on the sides of the loop, apply all the screws, and continue to force each home until sufficient pressure is obtained. The work may then be removed and polished.

To press the winker or blind-loop a. special piece (shown at 7;, Fig. 4) is used in place of one of the pieces a and b, so that in pressing the blind-loop only two screws are necessary.

e claim 1. In combination with the press A B, the removable pieces 0 0, held in place as described, and for the purpose specified.

2. In combination with the press A B, the removable piece k, held in place and used as described, and for the purpose specified.

3. In combination with the screw 0, the selfadjusting piece a, die h, and the removable rubber-faced plate E, all arranged and operated as and for thepurpose specified.

4. In a machine for prcssingand ornamenting harness-loo1')s, the combination of the following parts, viz: the grooved base B, arch A, screw 0, pieces 0 c, studs 0 c, rubber-faced plate E, and pieces a b b, all arranged and 0perated as described, and for the purpose specified.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 27th day of March, 1880.

ROBERT \V. PERKINS. FRANK H. ALLEN.

In presence of LUe1Us BROWN, JOAB B. ROGERS. 

